Alexander Gustafsson Sounds Off On Being On Fight Pass

Alexander Gustafsson was involved in what many considered to be the “Fight of the Year” in 2013, going the distance with UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones and almost claiming the belt from “Bones.”

Now, as he prepares to gain a rematch with Jones, Gustafsson will tangle with Jimi Manuwa this Saturday at UFC Fight Night: London.

While his bout with Jones was on pay-per-view, “The Mauler” was discouraged a little when he found out the Manuwa contest will only be streamed on UFC Fight Pass around the world.

“That sucks a little,” he said, while on The MMA Hour. “I didn’t know about that until just a few weeks ago, but a fight is a fight.”

While many believe Gustafsson will roll past Manuwa, he isn’t taking his challenger lightly.

“Jimi Manuwa is a very dangerous fighter,” he said. “He’s a dangerous fighter that has been sneaking around in the shadows. Nobody knows about him, but he’s very dangerous.

“With this ranking system, he’s a lot better than the guys that are higher ranked.”

I have a feeling this Fight Pass thing will come back and bite the fighters on the ass. I thought initially it wasn’t going to be full on cards, but like parts of ones, or special fights they didn’t have time for or something, that they were still doing free cards. Now though since they aren’t, sponsors of fighters who were expecting to be promoted on TV, aren’t going to be, which no matter what Fight Pass isn’t going to be seen by the same amount that TV would.

I won’t be surprised if sponsors start pulling off fighters, or lowering their pay now

I honestly want to get FP, but if they’re going to be start putting some important fights exclusively on it I’m going to hope it fails. I know they need a draw to get people to subscribe, but I don’t think holding big fights hostage is the way to do it.